Ethmia kibalensis, Mey, 2023

Mey, Wolfram, 2023, New data and species of Ethmiidae (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea) from the Afrotropical Region, Metamorphosis 34 (1), pp. 117-124 : 122-123

Ethmia kibalensis sp. nov. ( Figs 19–22 )

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Holotype: ♂ ( Fig. 19 ): Uganda, Kibale National Park, Biological Field Station , 1500 m, 00°32.419′N; 30°21.772′E, 19–24.xi.2014, at the lights, leg. W. Mey, genitalia slide Mey 48/23 (MfN).

Paratypes: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, same data as holotype ; 1 ♂, Kenya, Kakamega Forest Nature Reserve , cultivation land, 1600 m, 0°21.28′N; 34°51.45′E, 18.xi.2001, light trap (4), leg. F. N. Namu (MfN) .

Description. Adult male ( Fig. 19 ): Length of forewing 14 mm, wingspan 29–30 mm. Head vestiture yellow, episternum of prothorax with patch of yellow hairs; labial palpi ascending, black, basal segment with long, bown scales on ventral side, terminal segment acute; antenna black, with short cilia ventrally, much shorter in females, scaled dorsally in basal third. Proboscis long, basally greyscaled. Thorax grey, tegulae and patagia with black spots; mesonotum with four black spots. Legs brown. Forewings grey, with characteristic position of six black spots, two in fold, two at base and end of cell, two at the base of subcosta ( Fig. 19 ); wing margin without spots; hindwings pale grey, hair pencil present, yellowish; underside of wings uniformly pale brown, one (♂) or three (♀) brown frenular bristles. Abdomen light brown, becoming yellow towards tip on dorsal side, brown at ventral side, segments without spots; apical tuft of scales on segment VIII yellow.

Male genitalia ( Figs 20–22 ): Tegumen a half ring, apically seemingly interrupted in the middle, patch of long, somewhat twisted bristles in membrane close to apical margin of tegumen. Uncus strongly reduced, with a basal crest and pair of apical, flat, membranous lobes with short bristles on dorsal side. Gnathos undivided, plate-like, distally protruding, broadened laterally and slightly downcurved, thorns or spines absent; Vinculum short, as a thin half-ring. Labis long, black, curved closely along gnathos. Valva with broad and short costa, cucullus reduced to long, dorsal process bent dorso-mediad, apex rounded. Phallic apparatus with spiral base, anellus a sclerotized but ventrally open tube, enclosing manica and tubular phallic apparatus, with two lateral sclerites at apex; vesica without cornuti.

Etymology. The name refers to the Kibale National Park.

Remarks: According to the male genitalia, E. kibalensis sp. nov. is similar to E. rhomboidella Walsingham, 1897 and E. aberdaresi Mey & Shovkoon, 2014 . The new species differs externally by the larger size and by the plain grey hindwings, which are yellow or partly yellow in the former species. In the male genitalia, the form of gnathos and valva, and the curved labis arms are distinguishing features of E. kibalensis sp. nov. to other members of the group.

Figures

Figure 19 – E. kibalensis sp. nov., male paratype, Uganda, Kibale NP.

Figure 20 – E. kibalensis sp. nov., holotype, male genitalia, a: lateral, b: ventral, c: dorsal aspect (0.5 mm).

Figure 21 – E. kibalensis sp. nov., holotype, male genitalia, caudal aspect, genitalia slide Mey 48/23.

Figure 22 – E. kibalensis sp. nov., holotype, phallic apparatus, genitalia slide Mey 48/23 Female genitalia: Papillae anales large, forming a bladelike oviscapt, with numerous bristles on lateral sides.